Experience

 I have managed complex drinking water contamination cases on behalf of one of the nation's largest public water suppliers, recovering over $280 million from responsible polluters. 

 Managed multi-district litigation involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination of public drinking water wells, seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for treatment costs and system remediation. 

 Served as lead plaintiff's counsel in multi-district litigation involving methyl tertiary butyl ether contamination of public water supplies. Prepared corporate witnesses for depositions and achieved settlements exceeding $100 million. 

 Managed drinking water contamination case seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Prepared corporate witnesses for depositions and served as the corporate representative witness on public drinking water laws and regulations. 

 Managed litigation against a county government over drinking water contamination from improper fireworks disposal. Negotiated a creative settlement securing easements over 36 parcels of preserved property throughout the county for future well sites. 

 Managed litigation involving drinking water contamination from tetrachloroterephthalic acid, a preemergent herbicide breakdown product used on nearby sod farms. Cross-examined the defendants' expert witness at trial and achieved a judgment in favor of the client. 

 Throughout my career, I have handled the full range of legal matters that water utilities encounter in daily operations. 

 Successfully defended multiple challenges to public contract awards, including contracts for water treatment systems and infrastructure projects, establishing that the utility properly followed competitive bidding requirements and eliminating non-responsible bidders. 

  Providing specialized legal counsel to public water suppliers on compliance with the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the most significant revision to federal lead and copper regulations since 1991. LCRI compliance raises complex legal questions that engineering consultants alone cannot answer: what legal authority does a water system have to access and replace privately owned service lines; what constitutional constraints govern the use of public funds for work on private property; and what federal and state funding mechanisms are available, and in what sequence. Legal counsel also provides a critical structural advantage — compliance strategy prepared by an attorney is protected by the attorney-client privilege and is not subject to the public disclosure requirements that apply to a system's replacement plan and inventory.  

 Represented the utility in disputes involving water main extensions and surcharge procedures, helping establish the legal framework for how utilities can recover infrastructure costs from developers and property owners. 

 Established that a public water utility is not an insurer of its water system and cannot be held liable for damages from water main breaks absent a showing of negligence in system operations. 

 Negotiated seven collective bargaining agreements covering 600 employees across two bargaining units, managed over 25 labor arbitrations, and resolved hundreds of employee grievances.